Enclosure system for scaffolding

ABSTRACT

An enclosure system is provided for weatherproofing the work area on a standard scaffold structure adjacent a vertical wall surface and attachment thereto, comprising a framework consisting of a plurality of spaced apart base bars joined to an equal plurality of extension bars, and an overlying weatherproofing layer.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to construction scaffolding, and inparticular, to a weatherproofing framework structure therefor.

BACKGROUND

Building projects typically require scaffolding to be erected around awalled structure to enable workers to access the building at variousheight levels to perform work. The workers on the scaffolding andadjacent work area are exposed to adverse weather conditions whichlimits productivity. Brick and stonework are common examples ofconstruction work that requires scaffolding.

Attempts to address the adverse effect of weather conditions includeinflatable structures to enclose the scaffold and isolate the internalenvironment from the weather conditions outside, as disclosed in EP0948688 B1 for a “Weather Protected System for Mounting on aScaffolding”. Drawbacks of this solution include bulkiness, expense, andthe requirement of a power source.

Another approach in the prior art is disclosed in WO 1986/003538 for a“Weather Protecting Device for Stands”, requiring specialized rolls ofweatherproofing material which are attached to the scaffolding bybrackets that leave significant weather gaps between adjacent strips ofweatherproofing material.

The present invention provides an enclosure system that allows for quickand easy installation and set-up of a framework and overlyingweatherproofing layer over the work area on a standard scaffoldstructure without the need for specialized equipment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an enclosure system for weatherproofingthe work area on a standard scaffold structure adjacent a vertical wallsurface, comprising a framework of spaced apart structural membersattached to the scaffolding and an overlying weatherproofing layer overthe framework.

According to one aspect of the enclosure system according to the presentinvention an enclosure system is provided for weatherproofing the workarea on a standard scaffold structure adjacent a vertical wall surfaceand attachment thereto, comprising a framework consisting of a pluralityof spaced apart base bars joined to an equal plurality of extensionbars, and an overlying weatherproofing layer. The standard scaffoldstructure comprises a plurality of vertical tubes. Each base bar has alength, hollow structural section, end portion, and opposing ends, oneend being connected to the vertical tube on the standard scaffoldstructure by means of a coupler, and the other end being verticallyoffset from the first end toward the vertical wall surface and connectedto the extension bar by means of a first joining structure. Eachextension bar has a length, hollow structural section, end portion, andopposing ends, one end having a second joining structure complementaryto the first joining structure on the base bar and connected thereto,and the other end having a head structure for engaging the vertical wallsurface; the overlying weatherproofing layer comprises a sheet materialoverlying and attached to the framework.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodimentsthereof will now be described in detail by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the framework of the enclosure systemaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the framework of the enclosure system accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the base bar.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the extension bar.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the hollow structure section, along planeA in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the bottom end of the base bar, the coupler,and the top end of the vertical tube on the standard scaffold structure.

FIG. 7 is an expanded front view of the head structure.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the end bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The enclosure system according to the present invention comprises aframework consisting of a plurality of base bars joined to an equalplurality of extension bars, and an overlying weatherproofing layer. Theframework is installed on a standard scaffold structure and is coveredby any suitable weatherproofing material, such as a tarpaulin, toprotect the workers and work area from weather elements.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enclosure systemis installed on the top level work area of a standard scaffold structure9 above the highest walkboard, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The frameworkand the overlying weatherproofing layer covers the work area andadjacent vertical wall surface 28. The framework consists of structuralmembers made of steel, aluminum, or rigid composite material, which arejoined end to end to one another and to the scaffolding. As shown inFIG. 5, the structural members have a hollow structural section definingwalls 12 and a hollow interior 13, which may be circular, square, oranother shape in cross section.

The structural members forming the framework consist of a plurality ofjoined lengths of a base bar 1 and extension bar 2, which are connectedat one end to the standard scaffold structure 9 and abut the verticalwall surface 28 at the other end to form a framework to support thetarpaulin.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base bar 1 has a bottom end 4 and a verticallyoffset top end 5. Preferably the base bar 1 is tubular in cross sectionand has open ends. The bottom end 4 is structurally connected to an openend of the uppermost vertical tube 10 on the standard scaffold structure9 by means of a coupler 14 which is inserted into the end of thevertical tube 10 and bottom end 4 of the base bar 1. As shown in FIG. 6,the coupler 14 has two opposing ends 15 and 16, is preferably tubular incross section, has a smaller diameter than the open bottom end 4 of thebase bar 1 and vertical tube 10 of the standard scaffold structure 9,and has a pair of apertures 17 on either side of the coupler 14 neareach end 15 and 16, which align with apertures 6 at the bottom end 4 ofthe base bar 1 and apertures 11 on the vertical tube 10. Locking pinsare inserted through aligned apertures to structurally connect the basebar 1 to the vertical tube 10 on the scaffolding.

The base bar 1 may be provided with one or more toeboard brackets 7 atthe bottom end 4 to receive a toeboard. The base bar 1 may also beprovided with guardrail hooks 8 for attachment of horizontal guardrailsat vertical intervals.

The top end 5 of the base bar 1 is vertically offset from the bottom end4 of the base bar 1. Preferably, the top end 5 has an open end toreceive the extension bar 2 within the hollow structural section of thebase bar 1 as later described. When joined to the vertical tube 10 onthe scaffolding the base bar 1 and extension bar 2 act as one element ofthe enclosure framework.

As shown in FIG. 4, the extension bar 2 has opposing ends 18 and 19, alength, and a tubular cross section. Preferably, the end 18 is sized tobe insertable hollow structural section of the top end 5 of the base bar1.

The connection between the base bar 1 and the extension bar 2 is madetelescopically adjustable by providing spaced apart apertures 6 at thetop end 5 of the base bar 1, which are slidingly aligned with apertures26 at the end 18 of the extension bar 2 and connected thereto by meansof a locking pin. In this manner, the extension bar 2 is structurallyattached to the base bar 1 and is telescopically adjustable to engagethe vertical wall surface 28 and thus accommodate separation distancebetween the scaffolding and the vertical wall surface 28.

A head structure 21 is provided at the end 19 of the extension bar 2 toengage the vertical wall surface 28. Preferably, the head structure 21has an angled flat surface 22 to effect a flat engagement with thevertical wall surface 28. The head structure 21 also has a hook 23 forattachment of an overlying weatherproofing layer near the second end 19.

As shown in FIG. 7, the flat surface 22 of each head structure 21 may beprovided with one or more apertures 24 to facilitate attachment to thevertical wall surface 28. Preferably, the flat surface 22 is generallysquare and has four apertures 24 near the corners of the flat surface.

As shown in FIG. 8, an end bar 3 may be used as part of the enclosure.The end bar 3 is attached to the vertical tube 10 of the scaffolding bya coupler 14 and apertures 27, as described above for the attachment ofthe base bar 1. The end bar 3 has a bottom end 25 and a top end 26.Preferably the end bar 3 is tubular in cross section and has open ends.The end bar 3 may have one or more toeboard brackets 7 at the bottom end25 to receive a toeboard. The end bar 3 may also have guardrail hooks 8for attachment of scaffolding guardrails at vertical intervals. Theinner diameter of the open bottom end 25 of the end bar 3 is sized toaccommodate one end 15 of the coupler 14.

While various embodiments in accordance with the present invention havebeen described and illustrated herein, it is understood that theinvention is not limited thereto, and is susceptible to numerous changesand modifications as are known to those skilled in the art. Therefore,the invention described herein is not limited to the particularembodiments described and illustrated, and includes all such changes andmodifications as are encompassed by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An enclosure system for weatherproofing the workarea on a standard scaffold structure adjacent a vertical wall surfaceand attachment thereto, comprising a framework consisting of a pluralityof spaced apart base bars joined to an equal plurality of extensionbars, and an overlying weatherproofing layer, wherein: the standardscaffold structure comprises a plurality of vertical tubes; each basebar has a length, hollow structural section, end portion, and opposingends, one end being connected to the vertical tube on the standardscaffold structure by means of a coupler, and the other end beingvertically offset from the first end toward the vertical wall surfaceand connected to the extension bar by means of a first joiningstructure; each extension bar has a length, hollow structural section,end portion, and opposing ends, one end having a second joiningstructure complementary to the first joining structure on the base barand connected thereto, and the other end having a head structure forengaging the vertical wall surface; the overlying weatherproofing layercomprises a sheet material overlying and attached to the framework. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the first joining structure is an endportion of the base bar having one or more longitudinally spaced apartapertures therethrough; the second joining structure is an end portionof the extension bar having one or more longitudinally spaced apartapertures therethrough; and the second joining structure is insertableinto the hollow structural section of the first joining structure andconnected thereto by a pin passing through aligned apertures on the basebar and extension bar.
 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising twoend bars, each having a length, hollow structural section and opposingends, one end being connected to the vertical tube on the standardscaffold structure by means of a coupler.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the base bars and end bars further comprise guard rail hooks andtoeboard brackets for attachment of guard rails and toeboards.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the two base bars on the ends of the standardscaffolding structure each comprise guardrail hooks and toeboardbrackets for attachment of guardrails and toeboards along two edges ofthe standard scaffold structure and the remaining base bars and the twoend bars comprise guardrail hooks and toeboard brackets for attachmentof guardrails and toeboards along one edge of the standard scaffoldstructure.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hollow structuralsection of the base bar, extension bar, and end bar is circular,rectangular, or square.
 7. The system of claim 2, wherein the firstjoining structure on each base bar and the complementary second joiningstructure on each extension bar may be structurally attached at any oneof a plurality of positions to permit telescoping adjustment of thelength of the extension bar that extends beyond the end of the base bar.8. The system of claim 7, wherein each extension bar structurallyattached to a base bar may be locked in position relative to said basebar.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first joining structure oneach base bar comprises four pairs of apertures across the hollowstructural section of each base bar, the complementary second joiningstructure on each extension bar comprises one pair of apertures acrossthe hollow structural section of each extension bar, and each extensionbar structurally attached to a base bar is locked in position by alocking pin inserted through one of the four pairs of apertures in thebase bar and the pair of apertures in the extension bar.
 10. The systemof claim 1, wherein the extension bar further comprises a hook near thehead structure by which the overlying weatherproofing layer is attachedto the framework .
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the head structurecomprises a flat surface, which is parallel to the vertical wallsurface.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the head structure furthercomprises one or more apertures in the flat surface through which thehead structure may be attached to the vertical wall surface.